IMPROVED TUBE RAIL CART AND METHOD FOR HARVESTING PRODUCTS WITH SUCH AN IMPROVED TUBE RAIL CART

Abstract

 Improved tube rail cart (1) having a loading floor (14) or loading space (46) and which is provided on at least one of the front sides (23, 24) with a work platform (25, 26), wherein the tube rail cart (1) is further provided with an automated handling system (32) for automatically supplying empty packagings (16, 33) and removing full packagings (16, 34) between the loading floor (14) or loading space (46) and a work platform (25, 26), and vice versa, and for efficiently stacking empty (16, 33) and full packagings (16, 34) on the loading floor (14) or in the loading space (46) without any direct intervention of the user or harvester (30).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates in the first place to an improved tube rail cart.

[0002] More specifically, the present invention relates to such a tube rail cart which is fit for riding on tubes of a horticultural greenhouse (typically on heating tubes) and which is intended for harvesting products such as fruits and vegetables with, wherein the tube rail cart has a loading floor intended for stacking packagings on, such as boxes, crates or the like, for harvested products while harvesting.

[0003] According to the present state of the art, many types of tube rail carts are already known, all of which are more or less suitable for harvesting products or for working on plants in a greenhouse.

[0004] In many cases, with such a well-known tube rail cart, the harvester stands on the loading platform of the tube rail cart.

[0005] A disadvantage of these well-known tube rail carts is that a lot of space is taken up by the harvester himself.

[0006] While harvesting, the tube rail cart also supplies empty packagings which are to be filled with the harvested products.

[0007] Empty packagings are manually supplied to the harvester, while full packagings are manually removed and stacked on the loading platform.

[0008] Another disadvantage of the known tube rail carts is that it is far from easy to carry out the aforementioned activities of supplying, removing and stacking packagings in an efficient manner while harvesting, irrespective of whether the user or harvester is seated on the tube rail cart itself or walks beside the tube rail cart while harvesting.

[0009] Moreover, it requires great dexterity and physical effort from the harvester.

[0010] A further disadvantage of working with the known tube rail carts is that a lot of time is lost in this way while harvesting.

[0011] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a solution to one or several of the aforesaid problems and any other possible problems.

[0012] In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved tube rail cart wherein harvesting, and in particular the handling and stacking of empty and full packagings on the tube rail cart, is performed automatically as much as possible.

[0013] Yet another object of the invention is to achieve a smooth interaction between the harvester and the automated tube rail cart, allowing the harvester to fully concentrate on harvesting and wherein the other operations of supplying and removing empty and full packagings and stacking them efficiently are left entirely to the machine.

[0014] In this regard, it is in particular an object of the invention to bring about an automation wherein the harvester does not have to perform any operations or only to a very limited extent to control the automated functions of the tube rail cart.

[0015] To this end, the invention relates to an improved tube rail cart fit for riding on tubes of a horticultural greenhouse and intended for harvesting products such as fruits and vegetables with, wherein the tube rail cart has a loading floor or loading space for stacking packagings on, such as boxes, crates or the like, for harvested products while harvesting, wherein the tube rail cart is provided with a work platform on at least one of the front sides, more particularly on the front or the rear or on both sides, which is intended to allow a user to fill empty packagings standing on the work platform with harvested products, wherein the tube rail cart is further provided with an automated handling system for automatically supplying empty and removing full packagings between the loading floor or loading space and a work platform, and vice versa, and for efficiently stacking empty and full packagings on the loading floor or in the loading space without any direct user intervention.

[0016] A first major advantage of such a tube rail cart according to the invention is that the tube rail cart is provided with a work platform on at least one of the front sides, which is preferably foldable, so that a user or harvester can stand beside the tube rail cart to harvest products and put them in packagings standing on an folded-out work platform, and wherein the full packagings can be removed from this work platform to the loading platform of the tube rail cart.

[0017] In this way, the harvester can adopt a comfortable position while harvesting and the entire loading platform is free for handling and stacking empty and full packagings, wherein moreover the harvester himself is not an obstacle during this handling.

[0018] Another major advantage of such a tube rail cart according to the invention is that the tube rail cart is provided with an automated handling system.

[0019] This automated handling system relieves the harvester of the tasks associated with supplying empty packagings, removing full packagings and stacking them and/or moving them, so that the harvester can fully engage in the manual harvesting of the products.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment of an improved tube rail cart according to the invention, the improved tube rail cart is provided with a frame above the loading platform, the automated handling system is provided with a hoisting device that can be moved up and down and is suitable for lifting packagings and putting them back down, and the hoisting device is suspended at the top of the frame from an automatic positioning section which can be moved back and forth along the length of the tube rail cart.

[0021] A major advantage of such a tube rail cart according to the invention is that the combination of a positioning section which can be moved back and forth and a hoisting device which can be moved up and down with respect to this positioning section makes it possible to reach packagings on the loading platform, lift them and put them back down in a very efficient manner, and thus to move and stack them in all possible configurations.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment of an improved tube rail cart according to the invention, the automated handling system is provided with detection means, control means and a management system, wherein the management system keeps track of the position of the different packagings on the tube rail cart.

[0023] Preferably, the detection means can detect the presence or absence of a packaging in one or more positions and/or the detection means can detect one or more states of a packaging, in particular the completely filled state, the completely empty state and/or a partially filled state of such a packaging.

[0024] It is clear that, depending on the embodiment and requirements, detection means may be provided which can perform more or less of the aforementioned functions.

[0025] A major advantage of such an embodiment of a tube rail cart according to the invention is that the detection means can detect certain situations such as the presence of a packaging or the state of such a packaging, typically while harvesting, so that based on the detected situation, packagings can be handled with the control means without the need for intervention by a user or harvester.

[0026] In yet another preferred embodiment of a tube rail cart according to the invention, the control means therein control the positioning section in order to place it above a packaging to be picked up or above a position where a lifted packaging is to be placed, and the control means control the gripping and releasing by the hoisting device, as well as the up and down movement of the hoisting device.

[0027] It is clear that such control means can be realised relatively easily, as these control means have to control the movement of packagings, which mainly takes place in only two directions.

[0028] More specifically, the control devices make a hoisting device move up and down in a vertical direction with respect to a positioning section, and the control means move the positioning section in a direction along the length of the tube rail cart.

[0029] A further preferred aspect of an improved tube rail cart according to the invention is that the automated handling system performs a sequence including at least the following:

(a) supplying an empty packaging from the loading platform and placing this empty packaging on a folded-out work platform in a nearby position close to the loading platform of the tube rail cart;

(b) monitoring the nearby position with the detection means to determine whether a user has brought a full packaging to this position and, in the meantime, supplying a subsequent empty packaging to a waiting position above the nearby position;

(c) placing the next empty packaging on top of the full packaging as soon as it has been brought to the nearby position by a user;

(d) monitoring the nearby position with the detection means to determine whether a user has removed the empty packaging which was placed on top of the full packaging;

(e) removing the full packaging to the loading platform as soon as the empty packaging has been removed from the full packaging by a user; and

f) repeating steps a to e for as long as there is being harvested on the folded-out work platform and successively removed full packagings are being stacked on the loading platform.

[0030] A major advantage of such a tube rail cart according to the invention is that its automated handling system performs a series of successive actions, such that a harvester can continue harvesting undisturbed.

[0031] A full packaging being placed in a specific position close to the loading platform by the harvester is used here as a trigger or impulse to supply the next empty packaging and remove the full packaging.

[0032] The harvester can thereby continue harvesting in a completely natural manner without having to worry at all about removing the full packagings, stacking them and supplying empty packagings.

[0033] The invention also relates to a method for harvesting products with an improved tube rail cart according to the invention, as described above.

[0034] Such a method according to the invention comprises at least the following steps:

a) the automatic lowering of a work platform of the tube rail cart by the automated handling system;

b) the automatic supply of an empty packaging from the loading platform and placing this empty packaging on the work platform in a nearby position close to the loading platform of the tube rail cart by the automated handling system;

(c) the removal of the empty packaging from the nearby position to a remote position further away from the loading platform of the tube rail cart by the user;

(d) the monitoring with detection means of the nearby position by the automated handling system in order to check whether the user has brought a full packaging to the nearby position and, in the meantime, the supply of a subsequent empty packaging to a waiting position above the nearby position by the automated handling system;

(e) a full packaging being moved to the nearby position by a user;

(f) the next empty packaging being placed on top of the full packaging by the automated handling system as soon as it has been placed in the nearby position by a user;

g) the removal of the empty packaging that was placed on the full packaging by the user;

(h) monitoring with the detection means of the nearby position by the automated handling system to determine whether a user has removed the empty packaging which was placed on top of the full packaging; and

(i) the removal of the full packaging to the loading platform by the automated handling system as soon as the empty packaging has been removed from the full packaging by the user;

(j) stacking of the removed full packagings on the loading platform by the automated handling system; and

(k) repeating the foregoing steps b to j on the folded-out work platform as long as harvesting continues.

[0035] It is clear that with such a method according to the invention, a very good cooperation between user and machine is achieved, wherein certain actions of the user which completely fit within the framework of harvesting are detected by the tube rail cart, which on the basis thereof further handles the removal of full and the supply of empty packagings, as well as the stacking thereof, fully independently and automatically.

[0036] In a preferred embodiment of an improved tube rail cart according to the invention for implementing a preferred method according to the invention, the tube rail is configured such that the tube rail cart can be driven automatically from a hardened strip to a desired position on a pair of tubes between plants, and the harvesting can be automatically started and stopped by folding out and putting back a work platform, respectively, in a fully automatic manner.

[0037] With such an embodiment of an improved tube rail cart according to the invention, a very far-reaching automation of the harvesting process is obtained.

[0038] In order to better explain the characteristics of the invention, the following preferred embodiment of a tube rail cart according to the invention as well as a method for using such a tube rail cart are described hereafter by way of example only without being limitative in any way, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

figure 1 shows a view in perspective of a possible embodiment of an improved tube rail cart according to the invention, wherein the work platforms are in a stowed position;

figure 2 is a side view according to arrow F2 of the improved tube rail cart in figure 1;

figure 3 is a top view according to arrow F3 of the improved tube rail cart in figure 1;

figure 4 is a bottom view according to arrow F4 of the improved tube rail cart in figure 1;

figure 5 is a rear view according to arrow F5 of the improved tube rail cart from figure 1;

figure 6 shows a view in perspective as in figure 1, but with both work platforms of the improved tube rail cart being folded-out;

figure 7 schematically illustrates in plan view and on a smaller scale the movement of an improved tube rail cart to the tube rails of a horticultural greenhouse;

figures 8 to 16 included schematically and in side view illustrate successive steps during harvesting with an improved tube rail cart according to the invention in accordance with a method according to the invention; and,

figure 17 schematically illustrates yet another possible embodiment of a tube rail cart according to the invention.

[0039] Figure 1 shows an improved tube rail cart 1, fit for riding on a pair of round tubes 2 of a horticultural greenhouse 3, which are arranged parallel to each other.

[0040] To this end, the tube rail cart 1 is provided with an undercarriage 4 which can ride over the tubes 2 by means of a pair of tube rail front wheels 5 mounted on a front axle 6 and a pair of tube rail rear wheels 7 mounted on a rear axle 8.

[0041] This is illustrated in more detail in the bottom view of figure 4.

[0042] The tube rail front wheels 5 and the tube rail rear wheels 7 can be fitted over the pair of round tubes 2 and to this end they are profiled according to the round shape of the tubes 2, so that the tube rail cart 1 remains on the tubes 2 and is always guided by these tubes 2 when the tube rail cart 1 is placed on the tubes 2.

[0043] The tube rail cart 1 is also provided with drive means 9 for moving the tube rail cart 1 over the tubes 2, for example in the form of a pair of central wheels 10 driven by an electric motor or the like.

[0044] The tube rail cart 1 is further provided with a set of four swivel wheels 11 which are rotatable around a vertical axis and which enable the tube rail cart 1 to ride over a hardened surface 12, such as, for example, a concrete path between rows of plants of the horticultural greenhouse 3.

[0045] The tube rail cart 1 is intended to harvest products 13 such as fruit and vegetables with.

[0046] To this end, the tube rail cart 1 has a loading floor 14 which is provided at the top 15 of the undercarriage and which is intended for stacking packagings 16 on, such as boxes, crates or the like, for harvested products 13 while harvesting.

[0047] Above the loading platform 14, the tube rail cart 1 is in this case provided with a metal frame 17 which is essentially beam-shaped and which is composed of upright ribs 18 extending vertically from the undercarriage 4, longitudinal ribs 19 extending along the longitudinal direction AA' of the tube rail cart 1 and transverse ribs 20 which are transverse to the longitudinal direction AA'.

[0048] In the case of the figures, the improved tube rail cart 1 is also provided with partitions 21 in the form of plates 21 extending vertically and which are separated from each other at regular intervals D along the longitudinal direction AA' of the tube rail cart 1.

[0049] This intermediate distance D corresponds to a dimension of the packagings 16, so that compartments 22 are formed in which packagings 16 can be placed on top of each other in a fitting manner.

[0050] According to the invention, the tube rail cart 1 is further provided with a work platform 25 or 26 on at least one of the front sides 23 and 24, more particularly on the front side 23 or the rear side 24 or on both sides 23 and 24.

[0051] Preferably, the work platforms 25 and 26 can be folded out, as is also the case in the examples of the figures, but in another embodiment such work platform 25 or 26 may just as well be fixed.

[0052] In the case of the figures, both the front side 23 and the rear side 24 have work platforms 25 and 26, respectively.

[0053] These work platforms 25 and 26 are intended to allow a user or harvester 30 to fill empty packagings 16 standing on the work platform 25 or 26 with harvested products 13.

[0054] In the embodiment of figures 1 to 6, the work platforms 25 and 26 simply consist of a pair of parallel beams 27 and 28 which are interconnected by an intermediate cross beam 29 and by the frame 17.

[0055] More specifically, the work platforms 25 and 26 are hinge-mounted at one end 31 to the corresponding front side 23 or 24 of the tube rail cart 1, for example to the corresponding section of the frame 17 of the tube rail cart 1.

[0056] In a stowed state, these work platforms 25 and 26 extend vertically against the frame 17.

[0057] This situation is shown, for example, in figure 1 and will typically occur in practice when the tube rail cart 1 is moved to another part of the horticultural greenhouse 3.

[0058] For use during harvesting, such work platform 25 or 26 is put into a folded-out state wherein it extends horizontally from the respective front side 23 or 24.

[0059] Such a state is shown, for example, in figure 6.

[0060] According to the invention, the work platforms 25 and 26 can preferably also be moved up and down or adjusted over the relevant front side 23 or 24 of the tube rail cart 1 for a vertical positioning V thereof according to a working height H which is fit for a user or harvester 30.

[0061] A very important aspect of the invention consists in that the improved tube rail cart 1 is further provided with an automated handling system 32 for automatically supplying empty packagings 33 and removing full packagings 34 between the loading floor 14 and a folded-out work platform 25 or 26, and vice versa, and for efficiently stacking empty packagings 33 and full packagings 34 on the loading floor 14 without any direct intervention of the user or harvester 30.

[0062] For this purpose, the automated handling system 32 is provided with a hoisting device 35 which can be moved up and down, as shown, for example, by arrows O and N in figure 9, and which is suitable for lifting and putting down packagings 16.

[0063] The hoisting device 32 is suspended at the top 36 of the frame 17 from an automatic positioning section 37 which can be moved back and forth along the length L of the tube rail cart 1, as shown for example by arrow P in figure 9.

[0064] The partitions 21 extend vertically below the automatic positioning section 37, so that packagings 16 can pass over the partitions 21.

[0065] The automatic positioning section 37 can ride on a rail 38 extending from the top 36 of the frame 17 according to the longitudinal direction AA' of the tube rail cart 1.

[0066] According to the invention, the rail 38 is designed as extended, extendable or slidable to and fro in the frame 17, so that it extends or can extend with a section 39 over a folded-out work platform 25 or 26 of the tube rail cart 1.

[0067] As already mentioned in the introduction, the automated handling system 32 is preferably provided with detection means, control means and a management system, the management system keeping track of the position of the various packagings 16 on the tube rail cart 1.

[0068] These detection means, control means and this management system are not indicated in detail in the figures.

[0069] Preferably, the detection means can detect the presence or absence of a packaging 16 in one or more positions and/or the detection means can detect one or more states of a packaging 16, in particular the fully filled state, the fully empty state and/or a partially filled state of such a packaging 16.

[0070] Other preferred characteristics of the automated handling system 32 were already listed in the introduction.

[0071] In any event, the aim is that the automated handling system 32 be designed such that empty packagings 33 are efficiently and automatically brought close to the user or harvester 30 by putting them on a folded-out work platform 25 or 26 and such that full packagings 34 filled with products 13 by said user or harvester 30 are automatically and efficiently removed from the respective work platform 25 or 26 to the loading platform 14 and stacked there on top of each other.

[0072] The automated handling system 32 herein performs certain sequences, such that a user or harvester 30 can harvest with the tube rail cart 1 without having to worry about supplying and removing packagings 16 to its loading platform 14.

[0073] The conditions which the automated handling system 32 must meet to this end will become clear from an illustration of the use of an improved tube rail cart 1 according to the invention, in accordance with a method according to the invention, which will be explained below by means of figures 7 to 16.

[0074] Figure 7 illustrates how a horticultural greenhouse 3 is typically configured such that a pair of tubes 41 is provided each time between rows of plants 40 on which an improved tube rail cart 4 according to the invention can ride.

[0075] Transverse to the rows of plants 40, a hardened strip 12 is provided on which the tube rail cart 1 can be wheeled with the swivel wheels 11 to a pair of tubes 41 in a desired position between the rows of plants 40 in order to start harvesting there.

[0076] Preferably, an improved tube rail cart 1 according to the invention is provided with drive means with which the tube rail cart 1 is automatically driven over the hardened strip 12 into a determined position on a pair of tubes 41 between rows of plants 40.

[0077] In doing so, the tube rail cart 1 preferably performs the manoeuvres itself for turning on the hardened strip 12 or the concrete path 12 in order to turn to the row of tubes 41.

[0078] Alternatively, the tube rail cart 1 may also be designed such that such displacement can also be done manually or can only be done manually.

[0079] Figure 8 illustrates a first step of a method according to the invention for harvesting with an improved tube rail cart 1 according to the invention.

[0080] According to the invention, preferably in the initial state, when the automated handling system 32 is started up for harvesting, the tube rail cart 1 is arranged such that it is filled with empty packagings 33 stacked in successive compartments 22 of the tube rail cart 1.

[0081] Preferably, the first compartment 42, which is closest to the work platform 25 or 26 to be folded-out for harvesting, is kept entirely empty.

[0082] In the first step of the method according to the invention, the automated handling system 32 or a user 30 should fold down a work platform 25 or 26 of the tube rail cart 1, for example by performing a rotational movement according to arrow R.

[0083] After folding out the work platform 25 or 26, the automated handling system 32 automatically supplies an empty packaging 33 from the loading platform 14 by a combination of up and down movements O and N of the hoisting device 35 and a movement P of the positioning section 37 according to the longitudinal direction AA' of the tube rail cart 1 and places this empty packaging 33 on the folded-out work platform 25 or 26 in a nearby position X close to the loading platform 14 of the tube rail cart 1.

[0084] Thereafter, the user 30 should remove the empty packaging 33 from the nearby position X and move it to a remote position Y, which is further away from the loading platform 14 of the tube rail cart 1, as indicated in figure 10 by arrow S.

[0085] When the empty packaging 33 has been brought into the remote position Y, the user 30 can start harvesting and the empty packaging 33 can be filled with harvested products 13.

[0086] Meanwhile, the nearby position X is monitored by the automated handling system 32, for example with the aid of its detection means in order to check whether the user 30 has returned a full packaging 34 to the nearby position X, while in the meantime the automated handling system 32 supplies a following empty packaging 33 to a waiting position Z above the nearby position X by means of an upward movement O of the hoisting device 35 and a forward movement P of the positioning section 37.

[0087] All this is illustrated in figures 9 and 11.

[0088] After the user 30 has filled the packaging 16 with harvested products 13 in the remote position Y, the filled packaging 34 is shifted back to the nearby position X by the user 30, which is illustrated in figure 12 with arrow T.

[0089] This state triggers an action of the automated handling system 32 wherein the next empty packaging 33 is placed on top of the full packaging 34 as of the waiting position Z, which is shown by arrow U in figure 12.

[0090] The user 30 then removes the empty packaging 33, which was placed on the full packaging 34 by the automated handling system 32 by a movement illustrated by arrow W in figure 13.

[0091] Meanwhile, the nearby position X is being monitored with the detection means of the automated handling system 32 in order to check whether the user 30 has removed the empty packaging 33 which had been placed on the full packaging 34.

[0092] As soon as the empty packaging 33 has been effectively removed from the full packaging 34 by the user 30, the automated handling system 32 is reactivated, and the full packaging 34 is removed to the loading platform 14 by the automated handling system 32 via a combination of an upward movement O and a downward movement N of the hoisting device 35 and a movement P according to the longitudinal direction AA' of the positioning section 37.

[0093] The full packagings 34 which have been removed by the automated handling system 32 are thereby stacked on top of each other on the loading platform 14.

[0094] According to the invention, full packagings 34 are herein preferably stacked first in the first compartment 42 and then in subsequent compartments 22.

[0095] This is illustrated in figures 14 and 15.

[0096] Meanwhile, the user 30 continues harvesting and the previous steps, shown in figures 11 to 15, are repeated until it is decided to stop harvesting, or to stop harvesting using the respective work platforms 25 or 26.

[0097] In a preferred method according to the invention, wherein the improved tube rail cart 1 is provided with two work platforms 25 and 26 on the two opposite front sides 23 and 24 of the tube rail cart 1 as shown in the figures, the automated handling system 32 goes through a first sequence during harvesting to reach a first section 43 of the compartments 22, closest to a first work platform 25, stacks full packagings 34 on top of each other, and then the automated handling system 32 goes through a second sequence to stack full packagings 34 on top of each other in a second section 44 of the compartments 22 closest to the second work platform 26.

[0098] The first section 43 of compartments 22 and the second section 44 of compartments 22 may each correspond to one half of the compartments 22 or occupy a portion which is larger or smaller than one half of the compartments 22.

[0099] The automated handling system 32 or the user 30, after having reached the end 45 of the aisle at the location of the respective pair of tubes 41 or after the user 30 has given a manual input to that end to the automated handling system 32, thereby brings this first work platform 26 into a stowed position, and the automated handling system 32 or the user 30 folds out a second work platform 25 provided on the opposite front side 23 of the tube rail cart 1, and thereafter performs a sequence which is completely analogous as with regard to the harvesting on the first work platform 26.

[0100] This working method is schematically illustrated by way of example in figure 16.

[0101] In a typical sequence, the automated handling system 32 according to the invention will first fold out the work platform 26 closest to the hardened strip 12, and only thereafter the other work platform 25.

[0102] Figure 17 shows yet another embodiment of a tube rail cart 1 in accordance with the invention.

[0103] In this case, the automated handling system 32 is completely different, with the packagings 16, 33 or 34 being rotated in a loading space 46 of the tube rail cart 1 by means of the automated manipulation system 32 and being moved between this loading space 46 and a work platform 25 or 26 while harvesting.

[0104] The automated handling system 32 this time consists of vertically upward moving (according to arrow O) and downward moving (according to arrow N) conveyor belts 47 which are provided next to each other on the underside 48 of the tube rail cart 1 under the loading space 46.

[0105] The conveyor belts 46 can transport the packagings 16, 33 and 34 (according to arrow P, and vice versa) and lower them/push them up (according to arrows N and O) in the desired column or in the desired compartment 22 of the loading space 46.

[0106] The invention is by no means limited to the embodiments of an improved tube rail cart 1 according to the invention described by way of example and illustrated in the figures; on the contrary, such tube rail carts 1 may be embodied in a variety of other ways while still remaining within the scope of the invention.

[0107] Neither is the invention by no means limited to the methods for harvesting products 13 with an improved tube rail cart 1 according to the invention, described by way of example and illustrated in the figures; on the contrary, such methods may be carried out in many other ways while still remaining within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. Improved tube rail cart (1) fit for riding on tubes (2) of a horticultural greenhouse (3) and which is intended for harvesting products (13) such as fruit and vegetables with, wherein the tube rail cart (1) has a loading floor (14) or loading space (46) intended for stacking packagings (16) on, such as boxes, crates or the like, for harvested products (13) while harvesting, characterised in that the tube rail cart (1) is provided with a work platform (25, 26) on at least one of the front sides (23, 24), more particularly on the front side (23) or the rear side (24) or on both sides (23, 24), which is intended to allow a user or harvester (30) to fill empty packagings (16, 33) standing on the work platform (25, 26) with harvested products (13), wherein the tube rail cart (1) is further provided with an automated handling system (32) for automatically supplying empty packagings (16, 33) and removing full packagings (16, 34) between the loading floor (14) or loading space (46) and a work platform (25, 26), and vice versa, and for efficiently stacking empty packagings (16, 33) and full packagings (16, 34) on the loading floor (14) or in the loading space (46) without any direct intervention of the user or harvester (30).

2. Improved tube rail cart (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the work platform (25, 26) or the work platforms (25, 26) can be folded out or are arranged between a stowed position in which it extends mainly vertically up against the tube rail cart (1) and a folded-out position in which the work platform (25, 26) extends horizontally from the relevant front side (23, 24).

3. Improved tube rail cart (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the tube rail cart (1) is provided with a frame (17) above the loading platform (14), the automated handling system (32) being provided with a hoisting device (35) that can be moved up and down and is suitable for lifting packagings (16) and putting them back down, wherein the hoisting device (35) is suspended at the top (36) of the frame (17) from an automatic positioning section (37) which can be moved back and forth over the length (L) of the tube rail cart (1).

4. Improved tube rail cart (1) according to one or several of the preceding claims, characterised in that the automatic positioning section (37) can ride over a rail (3) which extends at the top (36) of the frame (17) in the longitudinal direction (AA') of the tube rail cart (1).

5. Improved tube rail cart (1) according to claim 4, characterised in that the rail (38) is designed as extended, extendable or slidable to and fro, so that it extends or can extend with a section (39) above a folded-out work platform (25, 26) of the tube rail cart (1).

6. Improved tube rail cart (1) according to one or several of claims 3 to 5, characterised in that the frame (17) of the tube rail cart (1) is essentially beam-shaped and wherein the tube rail cart (1) is provided with partitions (21) extending vertically under the automatic positioning section (37) and separated from one another at a regular distance (D) in the longitudinal direction (AA') of the tube rail cart (1), corresponding to a dimension (E) of the packagings (16), so as to form compartments (22) in which packagings (16) can be stacked on top of one another in a fitting manner.

7. Improved tube rail cart (1) according to one or several of the preceding claims, characterised in that one work platform (25, 26) or both work platforms (25, 26) can be moved up and down over the relevant front side (23, 24) of the tube rail cart (1) for a vertical positioning (V) thereof according to a working height (H) which is fit for a user or harvester (30).

8. Improved tube rail cart (1) according to one or several of the preceding claims, characterised in that the automated handling system (32) is provided with detection means, control means and a management system, wherein the management system keeps track of the position of the different packagings (16) on the tube rail cart (1).

9. Improved tube rail cart (1) according to claim 8, characterised in that the detection means can detect the presence or absence of a packaging (16) in one or more positions and/or can detect one or several states of a packaging (16), in particular the completely filled state, the completely empty state and/or a partially filled state of such a packaging (16).

10. Improved tube rail cart (1) according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the control means control the positioning section (37) in order to place it above a packaging (16) to be picked up or above a position where a lifted packaging (16) is to be put down, and wherein the control means control the gripping and releasing by the hoisting device (35), as well as the up and down movement of the hoisting device (35).

11. Improved tube rail cart (1) according to one or several of the preceding claims, characterised in that the tube rail cart (1) is provided with drive means with which the tube rail cart (1) is automatically driven over a hardened strip (12) and into a determined position on a pair of tubes (41) between rows of plants (40), wherein the tube rail cart (1) automatically performs the manoeuvres itself for turning on the hardened strip (12) in order to turn to the row of tubes (41).

12. Improved tube rail cart (1) according to one or several of claims 8 to 11, characterised in that the automated handling system (32) performs a sequence including at least the following:

a) supplying an empty packaging (16, 33) from the loading platform (14) and placing this empty packaging (16, 33) on a work platform (25, 26) in a nearby position (X) close to the loading platform (14) of the tube rail cart (1);

b) monitoring the nearby position (X) with the detection means to determine whether a user (30) has brought a full packaging (16, 34) to this nearby position (X) and, in the meantime, supplying a subsequent empty packaging (16, 33) to a waiting position (Z) above the nearby position (X);

c) placing the next empty packaging (16, 33) on top of the full packaging (16, 34) as soon as it has been brought to the nearby position (X) by a user (30);

d) monitoring the nearby position (X) with the detection means to determine whether a user (30) has removed the empty packaging (16, 33) which was placed on top of the full packaging (16, 34);

e) removing the full packaging (16, 34) to the loading platform (14) as soon as the empty packaging (16, 33) has been removed from the full packaging (16, 34) by a user (30); and,

f) repeating steps a to e for as long as there is being harvested on the work platform (25, 26) and stacking successive removed full packagings (16, 34) on the loading platform (14).

13. Improved tube rail cart (1) according to claim 12, characterised in that, in the initial situation, when the automated handling system (32) is started up, empty packagings (16, 33) are stacked in successive compartments (22), wherein the first compartment (42), which is closest to a work platform (25, 26) to be folded out or to be used while harvesting, is kept entirely empty and wherein, while harvesting, full packagings (16, 34) are first stacked in the first compartment (42) and then in subsequent compartments (22).

14. Improved tube rail cart (1) according to claim 12 or 13, characterised in that the tube rail cart (1) is provided with two work platforms (25, 26) on the two opposite front sides (23, 24) of the tube rail cart (1), wherein the automated handling system (32) goes through a first sequence while harvesting to reach a first section (43) of the compartments (22), closest to a first work platform (26), stacks full packagings (16, 34) on top of each other and then goes through a second sequence to stack full packagings (16, 34) on top of each other in a second section (44) of the compartments (22) closest to the second work platform (25).

15. Method for harvesting products (13) with an improved tube rail cart (1) according to one or several of the preceding claims, characterised in that the method comprises at least the following steps:

a) the automatic lowering of a work platform (25, 26) of the tube rail cart (1) by the automated handling system (32) or by a user (30);

b) the automatic supply of an empty packaging (16, 33) from the loading platform (14) and placing this empty packaging (16, 33) on the work platform (25, 26) folded out by the user (30) in a nearby position (X) close to the loading platform (14) of the tube rail cart (1) by the automated handling system (32);

c) the removal of the empty packaging (16, 33) from the nearby position (X) to a remote position (Y) further away from the loading platform (14) of the tube rail cart (1) by the user (30);

d) the monitoring with detection means of the nearby position (X) by the automated handling system (32) in order to check whether the user (30) has brought a full packaging (16, 34) to the nearby position (X) and, in the meantime, the supply of a subsequent empty packaging (16, 33) to a waiting position (Z) above the nearby position (X) by the automated handling system (32);

e) a full packaging (16, 34) being moved to the nearby position (X) by the user (30);

f) the next empty packaging (16, 33) being placed on top of the full packaging (16, 34) by the automated handling system (32) as soon as it has been placed in the nearby position (X) by a user (30);

g) the removal of the empty packaging (16, 33) that was placed on the full packaging (16, 34) by the user (3);

h) monitoring with the detection means of the nearby position (X) by the automated handling system (32) to determine whether a user (30) has removed the empty packaging (16, 33) which was placed on top of the full packaging (16, 34);

i) the removal of the full packaging (16, 34) to the loading platform (14) by the automated handling system (32) as soon as the empty packaging (16, 33) has been removed from the full packaging (16, 34) by the user (30) ;

j) stacking of the removed full packagings (16, 34) on the loading platform (14) by the automated handling system (32); and,

k) repeating the foregoing steps b to j as long as harvesting continues on the folded-out work platform (25, 26).

16. Method according to claim 15, characterised in that in the initial situation, when the automated handling system (32) is started up, empty packagings (16, 33) are stacked in successive compartments (22) by the user (30) or by the automated handling system (32), wherein the first compartment (42), which is closest to the work platform (25, 26) to be folded out first, is kept entirely empty and wherein, while harvesting, full packagings (16, 34) are first stacked in the first compartment (42) by the automated handling system (32) and then in subsequent compartments (22).

17. Method according to claim 15 or 16, characterised in that the automated handling system (32) or the user (30), after the end (45) of an aisle at the location of the respective pair of tubes (41) has been reached, or after the user (30) has given a manual input to the automated handling system (32) to that end, brings a first work platform (25, 26) into a stowed position and folds out a second work platform (25, 26) provided on the opposite front side (23, 24) of the tube rail cart (1), wherein the automated handling system (32) goes through a first sequence while harvesting in order to stack full packagings (16, 33) on top of one another in a first section (43) of the compartments (22), closest to the first work platform (26), and then goes through a second sequence to stack full packagings (16, 34) on top of one another in a second section (44) of the compartments (22), closest to the second work platform (25) .

18. Method according to one or several of claims 15 to 17, characterised in that the tube rail cart (1) is driven automatically from a hardened strip (12) to a desired position on a pair of tubes (41), and the harvesting is started and stopped fully automatically by folding out and putting back, respectively, a work platform (25, 26) .

Drawing